American NHLers on Canadian teams taking wait-and-see approach to crossing border

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Maple Leafs defenceman Justin Holl is ready to go. He's just waiting for the green light.

Holl has spent most of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the NHL, and much of North America, at home in Minnesota since the season was paused March 12.

The 28-year-old said Tuesday he's encouraged by news that some other sports are beginning to make plans to resume activities, and that the league could open team facilities to small groups of players later this month.

But as an American-born NHLer, Holl knows he could face an extra hurdle getting back to Toronto.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said over the weekend that non-residents would "at a strict minimum" need to follow quarantine protocols if they arrive in Canada while the border remains closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

For the Leafs, that would mean the likes of Holl, along with star centre Auston Matthews and No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen, who both are in Arizona, isolating for two weeks before being allowed to start activities with teammates.